When leaders gathered more than ten years ago, they wanted to provide a place where Tennessee Tech students, faculty as well as community members and their kids could create and learn. This discussion and work led to the Oakley Stem Center on the Tennessee Tech campus.

We continue our exploration of STEM Education as we visit with the center’s director Sally Pardue. She introduces us to all the programs and ways the STEM Center is used. And she invites you to explore the center through its many outreach programs.

Today In The Upper Cumberland airs each weekend as a way to introduce you to interesting people and subjects of interest to our community. Catch the show each Saturday morning at 6 on Lite Rock 95.9, Rock 93-7, and 106-9 Kicks Country.

Sunday morning, the show airs at 7am on Rock 93-7. Catch the show Sunday night at 6pm on Lite Rock 95.9 and at 7pm on 106-9 Kicks Country. You can also catch Today in The Upper Cumberland Sunday mornings at 7am and Sundays at Noon on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.

STEM Education may be a new concept to many. It’s not a class or a subject…it’s a different way of examining science and mathematics education…asking students to explain why and how.

In the Upper Cumberland, the Millard Oakley Stem Center provides a place where college students can learn to teach the next generation and local students and parents can explore STEM learning on their own. Sally Pardue directs the center.

Today In The Upper Cumberland airs each weekend as a way to introduce you to interesting people and subjects of interest to our community. Catch the show each Saturday morning at 6 on Lite Rock 95.9, Rock 93-7, and 106-9 Kicks Country.

Sunday morning, the show airs at 7am on Rock 93-7. Catch the show Sunday night at 6pm on Lite Rock 95.9 and at 7pm on 106-9 Kicks Country. You can also catch Today in The Upper Cumberland Sunday mornings at 7am and Sundays at Noon on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.

There’s a 17-year-old girl in Spartanburg, South Carolina named MeKayla Gist.  She was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer about two years ago, and lost one of her legs.

Then the cancer came back in February, and she had to have another surgery on her hip.  So she’s missed a lot of school.  But somehow she’s still in the top ten in her class.

She’s also really popular.  And when her friends found out she’d be in the hospital and miss prom this past weekend, they decided to bring prom to HER.

And it wasn’t just a few students . . . Dozens of them showed up at the hospital.

Everyone wore their prom gear . . . MeKayla was in a blue dress . . . and they brought her a crown and flowers, because she was elected prom queen.

They’re also helping organize a fundraiser at their school later this month to help her family with medical bills.

They’re trying to raise $50,000.  If you want to help out, search for “Help MeKayla TKO Cancer” on GoFundMe.com.

Thank YOU for coming out to the 106-9 Kicks Country Easter Egg Hunt presented by Meadows Homes! The Easter Bunny will see you next year! Happy Easter From 106-9 Kicks Country and Meadows Homes.

Addiction to heroin on the rise. Pain killer usage at an all time high. Marijuana viewed as a recreational option. Meth, though tempered by recent changes in the laws, remains prevalent. There are many aspects to the Upper Cumberland’s drug addiction challenge.

Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland stands as one organization trying to break the cycle and return local men and women back to productive lives. The name says teen….but the non-profit focuses on all ages. We find out more about Teen Challenge as we visit with Pastor Tim McLauchlin, the organization’s executive director.

Today In The Upper Cumberland airs each weekend as a way to introduce you to interesting people and subjects of interest to our community. Catch the show each Saturday morning at 6 on Lite Rock 95.9, Rock 93-7, and 106-9 Kicks Country.

Sunday morning, the show airs at 7am on Rock 93-7. Catch the show Sunday night at 6pm on Lite Rock 95.9 and at 7pm on 106-9 Kicks Country. You can also catch Today in The Upper Cumberland Sunday mornings at 7am and Sundays at Noon on News Talk 94.1/AM 1600.

White County High School’s Bryan Scott has been selected as the Lite Rock 95.9/106-9 Kicks Country Dream Big Scholar for April.

The award honors outstanding work in the classroom, leadership in school groups, and organization, achievement in extracurricular activities as well as work in the community. One student from a high school across the Upper Cumberland wins the award each month.

Scott is active in Tennessee Scholars in which he helps the community with different volunteer opportunities. He is also active in archery and TSA.

Scott is a top shooter for his archery team, helping them win two state championships. He devotes many hours to his clubs and classes, and even helps those in his classes to better understand the material.

Scott is really interested in going to MTSU, because he is interested in space and aerospace. He also has aspirations to become a pilot and maybe one day work for NASA.

Lite Rock 95.9 Morning Show Host Sheila Scruggs visited White County High School and presented Scott with a plaque. Scott will join other Dream Big Scholars from the 2016-2017 academic year at a spring banquet where she could win a $1,500 college scholarship, or one of two smaller scholarships.

106-9 Kicks Country and Lite Rock 95.9 joined forces with The Tennessee Credit Union in 2014 to encourage rising seniors who want to Dream Big. Parents, teachers, and local residents nominate graduating seniors for the award.

The Tennessee Credit Union has offices in middle and east Tennessee, including 1281 South Walnut Avenue in Cookeville. For 65 years, The Tennessee Credit Union has been helping members achieve their financial goals with products and services designed to exceed their expectations. To nominate a student to become a Dream Big Scholar, visit 1069 Kicks Country Dot Com or Lite Rock 959 Dot Com.

Listen to Bryan’s interview with Lite Rock 95.9’s Sheila Scruggs below!

This guy didn’t choose his t-shirt . . . his t-shirt chose him.

A 25-year-old guy named Harrison Wootton from Woodstock, Connecticut crashed his car into the stone wall outside of a cemetery around 1:20 A.M. on Monday.

And when the cops got there, they saw Harrison was wearing a t-shirt that said, quote, “Hold My Beer and Watch This.”

He was arrested for drunk driving.

A homeless man in Brazil named Lauri da Costa showed up at a hospital after someone hit him in the face with a rock!

But it turned out to be a good thing.  Because after he checked in, doctors realized he also had skin cancer.  So they did surgery to remove it, and he’s still recovering.

But the real story is about Lauri’s dog, Seco.  Because ever since Lauri checked into the hospital over two weeks ago . . . Seco has been waiting for him outside.

Eventually, one of the staff members noticed, and started giving the dog food and water.  And last week . . . eight days after Lauri checked in . . . his doctors let a nurse wheel him outside to say hi.

There’s a pretty cool video of it online, where the dog jumps up on his lap and starts licking his face.